Delta 2015 Guber: UPU accepts Uduehi

….says she is our daughter

Dr (Mrs.) Esther Uduehi during her consultation visit to UPU

By Omamuzo Efidhere

As the race for who becomes the next governor of Delta State thickens, the umbrella body of Urhobo nation, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has accepted the gubernatorial bid of Dr. (Mrs.) Esther Uduehi.

The Acting President General of UPU Chief J.O. Omene (JP) stated this on Thursday 23 October, 2014, while receiving the Chairman of the governing board of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non Formal Education, Dr. Uduehi at his country home in Mosogar, Ethiope West Local Government Area.

According to him “we here in UPU cannot anoint or endorse any candidate, however we know those we can accept and those we cannot accept. We can accept our own children and you are one of our own children. If UPU is insisting that the next governor of Delta State must come from Delta Central, are you not from Delta Central? Is your mother not from Orogun? Can we now say she is no more our daughter because she got married to a man from Ukwuani Local Government Area? No. She is still our daughter and if your mother is our daughter what are you? I do not think you have any problem in your quest to becoming governor because if UPU says you are our daughter, you are.”

Continuing he said “believe it when I tell you, you have no problem. We are one and there is no denying the fact that you have Urhobo blood flowing in your veins. It is our prayer therefore that God grants you your heart desire, and when you get to where God has prepared for you, always remember the Urhobo Nation.”

Earlier in her address, Dr. (Mrs.) Esther Uduehi, who came with a high powered delegation of chiefs from the various wards in Ukwuani Local Government Area, for the consultative visit with the leadership of the UPU, described her visit as homecoming. In her words “For those of you who do not know, my mother is from Orogun in Delta Central, which makes me your daughter – an Urhobo woman. If UPU supports me to become the next governor they can be rest assured that they will be supporting someone who is capable, competent and will deliver.  I am not running for governorship because it was zoned, but rather because I believe I am qualified, experienced, have the stamina, have been exposed, capable, have been tested, proven and can be trusted. Furthermore, I want to govern for the common good.”    

She stated that her focus if elected governor of Delta State will be “to appoint an economic council that has members drawn from every local government area in the state. We will sit down and brainstorm and the outcome of our brainstorming will decide our budget for each year. I will also encourage the local government councils to do same.”

Uduehi who was the first female Sole Administrator of a Local Government Area, first female CEO of state owned companies as Permanent Secretary in Commerce and Industry, first female Special Adviser to the President, first female head of a State media house and first female Deputy Treasurer of a political party, appealed to the leadership of UPU to help her once again accomplish the feat of being the first woman in Nigeria to be elected a governor.           

Delta Guber 2015: Uduehi the only Urhobo female aspirant

PDP Delta State Governorship aspirant, Dr. (Mrs.) Esther Uduehi in a handshake with UPU acting President-General, Chief Joe Omene, while her sister & former Delta SSG Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Omeni (left) looks on.

By Oturu Sovereignty

As the governorship primaries of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) approaches, it is becoming clearer that the only partly Urhobo female aspirant, Dr. Esther Uduehi, is gaining an upper hand over her opponents, both male and female. The former permanent secretary and Presidential aide, parades a formidable qualification that cannot be matched by any other aspirants. She holds an earned Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Administration and a wealth of experience in politics; business and civil service, including an international experience that she promises to bring to govern Delta for the common good. She is a technocrat extraordinaire and seasoned politician.

Dr. Uduehi, who could be called Oni-avwanre  (“our mother”) in Urhobo language, based on her compassionate motherly nature, has been adjudged to be well suited to govern and “mother” Delta to the next level of wealth creation for all Deltans.

Dr. Uduehi, who is the only aspirant with Delta Central blood in her, was recently told by UPU at a consultation visit that “you have no problem. Your mother is our daughter. You are our daughter. We accept you.” In a serious comment,, the UPU President-general stated that the Ukwuani people, where Dr. Uduehi’s father halls from, should be grateful to the Urhobos, who gave them a great wife that bore so many illustrious daughters, including  a Professor, a foremost governorship aspirant and a former SSG in the state.

Based on the marginalization-induced clamoring of Delta Central that Urhobo must produce the next governor and the equity-based counter-argument by Delta North, Dr. Uduehi is uniquely position to pacify both sides based on her dual background of Delta Central and Delta North, combined with being a very qualified aspirant that has been tried and tested and is trustworthy. She is, of course, quick to point out that she is not in the contest based on zoning, but rather because she is eminently qualified.

2015 Governorship elections and 35% Women participation

By Alex O. Atavware Akpodiete

The First lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan, is renowned globally for championing the cause of women. At the First lady’s capacity building workshop for female governorship aspirants, held in Abuja on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, the issue of electing female governors in 2015 was addressed. Present were three front-runners for governorship in their respective states. They were Senator Chris Anyanwu (Imo) Senator Nkechi Nwogu (Abia), and Dr. Mrs. Esther Uduehi (Delta). These women echoed the concerns of the first lady about under-representation of women in politics. Dr. Uduehi was quick to add that “in this century, we should not be talking about man or woman, but rather whether the person is qualified.”

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Initiator and Grand Patron of Women for Change and Development Initiative (W4CDI), Her Excellency, Dame (Dr.) Patience Goodluck Jonathan

This also was a theme at the recently concluded Women Leadership Summit in Asaba. The amiable outgoing Governor of Delta State was quoted as saying that “Women must come together to win in a man’s world.” Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON, who was the host of the Maiden edition of The Sun Women Leadership Summit on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 in Asaba, added that “they should refuse to be used to pull down or limit their fellow women in whatever field of endeavor. The women must agree to work together, they will win in elections by refusing to be manipulated by men and not be used against their fellow women.”

Senator Chris Anyanwu (Imo) Senator Nkechi Nwogu (Abia), Dr. (Mrs.) Esther Uduehi (Delta)

Which State will show that it is progressive by electing the first female governor? The first lady has been in the forefront of ensuring that women are no longer marginalized with her global Women for Change and Development Initiative (W4CDI), which apparently is “a socio-cultural organization that seeks to better the lot of the Nigerian woman economically, socially and politically.” W4CDI is similar to African Women leadership organization (AWLO), which recently held its annual conference in Atlanta, USA with the theme AFRICAN WOMEN: HARNESSING OUR STRENGTHS, GROWING IN ALL SPHERES. AWLO mission is “to bring together female executives, professionals and leaders to further advance the leadership status of women in the continent and fulfill the objectives of the organization.”

Two specific objectives of AWLO are: “To challenge African women to aspire to take up leadership positions in their respective countries;” and “To support and initiate strategies that improve access to legal, political, economic, educational, health services to advance the status of women in the region.”  Clearly, ensuring that women have a level playing field that ensures the election of a female governor is within the ambit of AWLO, which is also an extrapolated aim of W4CDI, which states on their website that “Women for Change and Development Initiative is committed to the creation of a movement that will engender the mass awareness of women at all levels to their human rights and obligations as citizens of Nigeria.”

According to the South-East Zonal Coordinator of W4CDI, Mrs. Uzuamaka Obianujunwa, W4CDI was established in 2010 and since then “The First Lady has been at the forefront canvassing for 35 per cent participation of women in governance in terms of political appointment and elective positions.”

 To achieve 35%, it means at least 13 states should have female governors. In Delta State, Dr. Uduehi, who is partly Ukwuani (Delta North) and partly Urhobo (Delta Central), appears poised to achieve the feat of being the first female elected governor in Nigeria, based on her intimidating qualifications. She has also achieved a lot of firsts in her life including first female Sole Administrator of a Local Government Area, first female CEO of state owned companies as Permanent Secretary in Commerce and Industry, first female Special Adviser to the President, first female head of a State media house (Bendel Broadcasting Service) and first female Deputy Treasurer of a political party. Part of Dr. Uduehi’s pedigree includes the fact that her junior sister is a Professor and her elder sister was the first female SSG in Delta State, a fact acknowledged by the acting President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chef Joe Omene, at a recent consultation visit.

Chief Omene even said concerning Uduehi that “if Delta State is ruled by a woman, it will be better for us. A woman who has risen to your level, why can’t she rule this state.”

While the rest of the world has been very progressive with women, including electing female presidents, female Prime Ministers, Nigeria is still lagging behind and the world is waiting to see if 2015 will be a watershed year that ushers in a new Nigeria.

Let us catch up!

*Rev. Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst writes from Asaba. He is also an aspirant for Udu/Ughelli North/Ughelli South Federal Constituency in Delta State. Contact him on 08138391661 or Profatawa@gmail.com,

Choosea sellable candidate or lose Delta to opposition, Uduehi tells PDP guber delegates

…says those in support of imposition are forgetting the God factor

 Dr. Esther Uduehi

By Omamuzo Efidhere

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, a governorship hopeful and the chairman of the governing board of the National Commission for Mass Literacy Adult and Non Formal Education in the State, Dr. Esther Uduehi has warned that the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) may lose the governorship election to the opposition All Progressives Congress, (APC) if its delegates fail to choose a sellable candidate in the party’s gubernatorial primary slated for November 29, 2014.

Uduehi who stated this during a consultation visit to the leadership of the PDP in Isoko South and North Local Government Areas, charged the delegates to think right and not mortgage their votes during the party’s primaries.

According to her “many Deltans are not politicians but they are going to vote in the general elections and they are depending on you PDP delegates to choose a good, credible and sellable candidate so that they can vote for that person because they want to vote for President Jonathan.

“But if you make the mistake of listening to some people saying it is here or there and not go for the right person, if you make the mistake of being guided by money and therefore won’t go for the right person, then you betray the state, you betray yourselves and you will be doing a great disservice to the electorates.

“Because if you choose the wrong candidate, then Deltans will definitely go to the opposition All Progressives Congress, (APC) seeking for a change from imposition and that won’t be in our interest as a party. So I want to appeal to all of you, please do the right thing. Ignore all the rumours making the rounds that somebody has being anointed and all because those saying that are forgetting the God factor as he alone will decide who will be governor.”

Continuing she said “Nkwani and Isoko people are one, we produce oil and gas, we know where it pinches and as a governor of Delta State, if oil is being discussed in Nigeria, I will know what to say but if you choose someone who does not come from where they do that, he will not appreciate or understand the agitations of the people from those areas.”

Chief Obi Eneruvie and Hon. Tutumor Daniel Isoko South and North PDP Chairmen respectively promised to heed her warnings, assuring that the party will not lose the state to APC in 2015.

PROFILE OF DAME DR. ESTHER KELICHA UDUEHI, KSG, PhD, FNIM, LSM, JP

Dr Esther Kelicha Uduehi was born to Chief Jacob Ebinum of Obiaruku in Ukwuani  Local Government Area and Princess Selina Mgboba Ebinum (Nee Anamali Omili  Imite of Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State). She attended First Baptist School, Obiaruku; Queen’s School, Ede; Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan; University of Lagos; University of Glasgow, UK; Temple University, Philadelphia, USA; and the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria from where she obtained, First School Leaving Certificate, Cambridge school Certificate, Higher School Certificate, BA (Hons) English and Philosophy with French as Subsidiary, Post Graduate Diploma in Education in Educational Psychology, M.Ed in Curriculum Development and Education Administration, and PhD in Public Administration respectively. 
She also holds various Certificates in short time Management courses from National and International Institutions. 

Dr Uduehi started her working career as a Class room /Graduate teacher and later became a school Principal before she transferred to the Administrative cadre of the Civil Service of the then Bendel State where she rose through the ranks to the post of Permanent Secretary/Director General before she voluntarily retired in 1992 after 27 years of meritorious service to go into Politics. In her service career, she served in many ministries and in different capacities. 

She was for many years the Director of and Manpower Development in the defunct Bendel State Civil Service. She was SAFE (Deputy Permanent Secretary) in Ministry of Education before she was deployed as the Executive Secretary for the Bendel State Education Board (Primary and Post Primary). 

She also served for 2 years as the Chief Executive of one of the then largest Local Government Councils, in the then Bendel State, Orhionmwon (Now Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode and part of Ikpoba Okha LGAs) Local Government Area Council, where she also served as the Returning Officer in the 1979 General Election. 

She was one time the Sole Administrator of the then Bendel Broadcasting Service (Radio and Television). She is a Management Consultant. 

In the course of her career as Permanent Secretary, she was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of eight (8) companies in which the Bendel State Government had controlling interest and also a Board Member in other publicly quoted companies in which the Government had shares. 

On retirement she was elected a member of the Audit Committee of UACN until 1999 when she had to resign because of her appointment as Special Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Dr Uduehi went into politics in 1992 under the platform of the defunct SDP where she played various State and National roles. 

She was also the interim Deputy National Treasurer of the defunct UNCP. She is now a member and chieftain of the PDP under which platform she contested the party primaries for the Delta North Senatorial seat in 2002. 

She was Special Adviser to the President, Liaison for the House of Representatives from 1999- 2002. 

She is presently the Chairman Governing Board of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education. Dr Uduehi has been involved in women activities for over 40 years. A onetime National President of the Association of Working Wives of Nigeria, she played active role in winning some rights and fringe benefits for women in the Service, including Maternity leave with pay, rent allowance etc. 

In 1973 she organized women of various ethnic groups in Warri and founded the YWCA, thus promoting peace and friendship amongst them. She is a life member of the International Alliance of Women, and President or Patron to several women organizations including the Catholic Women Organization. 

Dr Uduehi was in 2005 honoured by Pope Benedict XVI with the knighthood of St Gregory the Great (KSG) and she is the current National Vice President of the Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria (APKMN) having been its first Secretary General. She is also a Lady of the order of Knights of St Mulumba. She was honoured with several chieftaincy titles by various Communities amongst which is “Achiwame 1” of Ndokwaland in 2001. 

She is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management, (where she was a member of the Council for some years), a member of the Royal Institute of Public Administration ( RIPA), London and she is also a Justice of Peace (JP) Dr Uduehi has travelled wide and attended several National and International Conferences including the Nairobi World Conference on Women, 1985, the Conference in Beijing 1995 and the Conference on the Role of Women in the North South Cooperation under the auspices of the then Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France and Freiburg, Germany. She is the author of “Pre-Occupations” – an anthology of poems which she published in 1973. 

She was a member of the London Poetry Society and has published and presented several papers in National and International Conferences and Workshops including NIPSS, Kuru-Jos.

She is happily married to Engr D. B. Uduehi, a retired Permanent Secretary and they are blessed with children and grand children. She has blended her career and family life very well. 

Dr Uduehi has been part of Governance at all levels, Local, State and Federal Governments. Her education in varied subjects equipped her effectively for the varied roles, which spanned wide areas of human endeavour that she Rudi called upon to play in the course of her career and will prove a good and effective tool for the new role she is aspiring to play by God’s grace.

Esther Uduehi: Passionate About Service To Deltans

When you want to consider female Deltans who have made their marks in their different areas of callings, mention must be made of Dr. (Mrs.) Esther Uduehi. Soft spoken, choosy in her words, but firm and articulate. She radiates the aura of a leader with ideas and vision propelled by the love and passion for what she believes in. Meeting her for the first time, you may want to undermine her worth, probably because of her calm disposition, taking every step when she walks as if she does not want to hurt even the air around her and the floor. And as she talks, you could see a mild smile on her lips, but beyond that, whatever she says comes with the weight of authority and sound knowledge.
She retired from the civil service as Permanent Secretary after a meritorious service to then Bendel State and she was the former Presidential Adviser to Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly Matters and now, Chairman of the Governing Board of National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education. Added to this, she is a very strong and totally loyal member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a party she believes is the flagship of Nigeria’s politics, under whose platform she is aspiring to contest the 2015 governorship election in the state.
It is on record that she became Permanent Secretary in the then Bendel State, and it was after her that more women came up to occupy such enviable positions. In her time, she had the rare privilege of managing all the schools in the state. She was Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information in Bendel State, and at a time sole Administrator, Bendel Broadcasting Service.
Retiring into politic, she joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was a member of the National Electoral Board and vied for the Senate in 2003.
Having served in various capacities as a civil servant and politician, she is presently planning to take a shot at the governorship position of Delta State in 2015. She has had the privilege of managing local governments, managed different infrastructures, persons and institutions in two states – Edo and Delta.
Her vision is to continue from where the Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, stops. Of particular interest to her is the Governor’s Micro Credit Programme, which she said the Governor has done so well in impacting positively on the youth of the state. Carrying on from there, she says, as part of her mission, youth empowerment and job creation will be her priority. “I want to render services to Delta State. I have lived with the people and have been in politics in the past 16 years. My vision is to build an economically industrious Delta State, irrespective of where you come from, and to strengthen the partnership between the various ethnic groups in the state”, she says.
She holds the view that Governor Uduaghan has done well in the areas of health, education, human capital development, economic diversification and peace, and every effort should be made to allow for continuity in governance. “I, therefore, see Delta State with massive industrial development, wealth creation, rural development/renewal of urban areas”, she added.
Born to the family of late Chief Jacob Ebinum Ekeruche of Obiaruku in Ukwuani Government Area and Princess Selina Mgboba Ebinum, nee Anamali of Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area, she attended First Baptist School, Obiaruku, Queen’s School, Ede, did her Higher School Certificate programme at Ibadan Grammar School before proceeding to University of Lagos and Glasgow University, UK, Tempo University, Philadelphia, USA, and her PhD from the University of Benin. She is the first to acquire PhD in Political Science/ Public Administration from the department in University of Benin.
PHILOSPHY:
Do unto others what you’ll want them do to you. Whatever position you find yourself, do your best because you may never have that opportunity again, and do whatever you can now to improve the lot of those around you.
ROLE MODEL:
My mother. I admire her industry, uprightness and faith in God. At 95, she walked around Obiaruku town, and gave advice to whoever she felt needed it even when you were not her own biological child.
ADVISE TO WOMEN:
I have been married for 47 years and my husband, Engr. D.B Uduehi is my best friend, my confidant, and life without him will be incomplete. When a woman is married, she should try to keep her marriage no matter what happens. She should nurture her marriage, bring up the children in the fear of God because, by so doing the society will be a better place for all.

Delta Guber 2015: Uduehi purchases Expression of Interest form

Abuja, One of the frontrunners in the race for governorship of Delta State, Dr. Mrs. Esther Uduehi, purchased the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Expression of Interest (EOI) form on the first day the forms became available. Dr. Uduehi, who is considered a pillar in various areas, including education and politics, commented that it was further evidence of her zeal and dominance in the race. All political watchers know that this is the time the real contenders are separated from the pretenders.

Dame Esther Uduehi, PhD, KSG, LSM, FNIM. JP

The former Presidential adviser and retired Permanent Secretary used the opportunity to thank the PDP leadership for promising to give everyone a level playing field in the upcoming November primaries. Dr. Uduehi is also the current Chairman Governing Board of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education.

She further called on all Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR for a second term, arguing that the President has transformed Nigeria and deserved a second tenure to consolidate on his Transformation Agenda.